Queensland bike riders condemn sweeping bikie blitz

QUEENSLAND'S motorcycle riders have warned that the state's anti-bikie laws will set the state back 18 years to the day before the Fitzgerald inquiry into abuse of police powers and corruption.

While the State Government has denied the new laws will affect ordinary bike riders, the Motorcyle Riders Association of Queensland says there are already worrying signs that innocent riders will be caught up in the crackdown.

The new laws, brought forward by Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie, the Member for Kawana, will target instances where more than three motorcyclists are riding together.

"A number of particularly worrying issues are raised by this proposal and the manner in which the government has stated that it is going to go about introducing it,'' Association president Chris Mearns said in a statement on Monday.

"Firstly it must be clearly stated that riding a motorcycle is not illegal so any action that makes it subject to attention that is not applied to every other road user is utterly offensive and not in the spirit of a fair and impartial legal system.

"Secondly it is of great concern that the current government is proposing to introduce this unwarranted legislation with complete disregard to the procedures put in place after the recommendations of the Fitzgerald Inquiry that requires that any new legislation be reviewed by a parliamentary committee before going to final
reading and introduction.

"This procedure was put in place to prevent the potential for the excesses of a government that is able to dominate the single house parliament that Queensland has.

"It is apparent that this current government has every intention to ignore this vital check and balance. There can be no justification for this stance.

A hastily organised meeting of concerned motorcyclists on Saturday passed this statement on the issue: "If this is allowed to happen, this government in 18 months will have taken us back 18years".

The MRAQ cannot find any justification for the introduction of any legislation that can have an unwarranted interference with any person that is going about their lawful business or that targets a particular group for their manner of transport.

The Attorney General has used the very tired, "if you are doing nothing wrong you have nothing to worry about" line that is always produced when this type of unjustified proposition is made.

The MRAQ believes that a far more reasonable statement on this issue would be "if you are going about your lawful business then you should have no worry of interference".

The MRAQ has urged the Queensland Government to urgently reconsider the proposal.

Reader poll

Should bikies be locked up and the key thrown away?

This poll ended on 13 October 2014.

Current Results

Yes, we need to get these thugs off the street

27%

Yes, if you're not a criminal then you wouldn't join a motorcycle club

6%

No, this is just the Attorney General trying to make himself look tough

26%

No, how about solving a real problem like unemployment, housing or cost of living instead?

39%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

The Bandidos Motorcycle Gang arrive at Caloundra and are welcomed by a strong show of Police. Photo: Cade Mooney / Sunshine Coast DailyCade Mooney

Queensland Greens say innocent people will be hurt by 'star chamber'

Queensland Greens also condemned the approach, saying there is no doubt the extreme new powers being given to police and the Crime and Misconduct Commission's 'star chamber' will hurt innocent people.

Party spokesperson Andrew Bartlett said "one of the starkest lessons of the Bjelke-Petersen era was that excessive police powers are always going to be abused and misused, and innocent people are the victims."

Mr Bartlett said new laws being introduced into Parliament this week should be properly scrutinised and f necessary amended to ensure the basic rights of innocent Queenslanders are protected.

"Has the Liberal National Party forgotten the lessons of the Bjelke-Petersen era?

"Or are they just reverting to type, knowingly abusing their Parliamentary majority to rush through bad laws under a flimsy law and order guise?"

"This has clearly gone well beyond rational measures to stop criminal actions by motorcycle gangs. It is an unaccountable government, with no checks and balances, abusing its powers for cheap political gain."

"Bikie gangs who break the law should be charged with breaking the law. Innocent bike riders, and the friends and family, should not have to fear being caught up in one of Campbell Newman's power games."